Yair Lapid on CNN. Photo: Screenshot.

Ynet – The Finance Ministry announced on Sunday it was raising Israel’s deficit targets by roughly NIS 7 billion to foot the bill for an increased defense budget. The Defense Ministry for its part seems displeased, and slammed the budget as “unrealistic.”

Finance Minister Lapid and Netanyhau have been at odds as of late over the 2015 budget, with the two clashing over the need to either raise taxes or increase the deficit to cover increased defense spending. While Netanyahu supports the former, Lapid has repeatedly vowed not to hike taxes, and his deputy said Saturday that should Netanyahu push the issue, the party could choose to leave the coalition.

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